Robert Clark (Bobby) Boone, 75, of Freeport, Fla., passed away June 27, 2012, at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans. He was waiting for a liver transplant at the time of his death.

Born Oct. 14, 1936, in Montgomery, Alabama, Bobby graduated from Sidney Lanier High School in 1955 and attended Auburn University. During his senior year he led the Lanier High School Marching Band as drum major. After college he joined the Alabama Air National Guard and started working for WSFA-TV in the production department.

In 1961, his unit, the 187th TAC Reconnaissance Group, was called to active duty during the Berlin Crisis, and he served on active duty until 1962. After his release from active duty with the U.S. Air Force, Bobby became a full-time member of the Alabama Air Guard. In 1966 he received a commission as a second lieutenant, and at the same time accepted a position as director of public information with the State of Alabama, Department of Conservation. He continued serving as a member of the Alabama Air Guard and retired as a major.

In 1973 he became director of public relations for the Alabama Petroleum Council in Montgomery, a position he held until 1975, when he was promoted to assistant director for the American Petroleum Council in Atlanta.

In 1978 Bobby joined Gulf Oil Corp. in Atlanta and worked as director of that company's regional public affairs office until Chevron acquired Gulf in 1985. He continued with Chevron as Southern Region Director of Public Affairs in Atlanta until his retirement in 1999.

Bobby Boone loved nature and spending time outdoors. He was happiest hunting, fishing and sharing the experience with his wife, daughter and friends. He holds the record for catching the largest Warsaw grouper of 310 lbs. in the 1999 Destin Fishing Rodeo.

He was an accomplished photographer whose photographs have been widely published. His most famous photograph was taken of former Gov. Lurleen Wallace holding a wild turkey she had killed while hunting with Bobby.

Bobby is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Deanna (Deedee) C. Boone; a daughter, Alison Boone Hildebrant, her husband, Steve, a granddaughter, Anne Marie of Monticello, Ga.; a stepson, Shawn Regan, his wife, Cassandra, grandchildren, Cheyenne Regan, Austin Regan and Savanna Regan of Crestview, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Margaret Anne; and his parents, Robert Newton and Flora Clark Boone.

Funeral services were held Friday, July 6, at Leak Memory Chapel Funeral Home, 945 Lincoln Road, Montgomery, Alabama, at 3 pm, with Pastor Richard S. Russ and Bishop Wesley H. Russ officiating. Burial followed at the family plot in Greenwood Cemetery, with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Florida Wildlife Federation, P.O. Box 6870, Tallahassee, FL 32413-6870.

Published in Northwest Florida Daily News on July 12, 2012